Improvement in tension mechanism for looms for weaving goods with elastic strands



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIVERAS HULL, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TEN/SION MECHANISM FORLOOMS FOR WEAVING GUODS WITH ELASTIC STRANDS.

Specification forming part` of Letters Patent No. 49,271, dated August 8, 1865.'

I anism.

In the drawings,A, B, and C represent three grooved wheels, supported on centers a b c projecting from three posts, d d d. Each of these wheels has two grooves in and aroundits periphery. A friction band or cord, e, fastened to one ofthe posts. is carried partially around the periphery of each wheel, in manner asshown in the drawings, and has a weight, f, suspended .from it. This band, with its weight, serves as a brake to prod nce friction on each ofthe Wheels, toresist the draft of the elastic strand g, which, proceeding from a spool` A, is wound once about each of the wheels. The spool is to be supported on aspindle, t', which extends from a I projection7 K, that rises from a base-board, h,

to which the partsddd are secured. The strand q is to be led from the said mechanism into the Warps of the loom, by which such st-rands,witl1 the warps and the filling, are to be converted into an elastic webbing suitable for the fabrication of suspenders or other elastic articles.

I have found-by using two or more of the grooved wheels, A B C, instead of but oneof them, for the elastic strand to encompass, and applying; to each ofsu'ch wheels a friction-band, e, ari anged With respect to it as explained, that the tension ot' the strand is not only better maintained and nearer equalized, but the delivery of the strand from the spool or the most advanced Wheel is approximately uniform. When but one wheel is employed the draft of the strand, when sufficient to rotate the wheel, will cause too much unstrained 'strand to be suddenly given off by the spool. This unstrained or unstretched portion ofthe strand, after passing the Wheel, operates to diminish in too great a degree the tension of all that part ofthe strand in advance of the wheel-that is to say,the tension of such part of the strand will be suddenly lessened. In consequence ot' this irregularity in the tension the goods, whenwoven, Will be more or less puckered; but with my imp rovement such will not be the case.

In the operation of mysaid improvementthe tensile strain of the strand, tending to overcome the friction of the band e on the several wheels, will be divided among such wheels,and the Wheel C will be revolved before the Wheel B will commence to4 revolve; so the Wheel B will revolve some time before the Wheel A will revolve. Finally the wheel A will turn and draw from the spool a portion of the strand wound on it. This portion of-unstretched strand, instead of being immediately delivered entire into the stretched strand in advance ofthe foremost wheel, C, will enter that part ofthe strand which extends fr om the wheel A to the wheel B and diminish its tension, after which it will gradually pass into the-portion between the Wheels B and C, and iinally will gradually pass into the portion in advance ofthe Wheel C. In this way the tension of that partof the strand which is in advance ofthe wheelC will beequalized, or suticently so for all practical purposes.

It has been found a very diflicult matter to construct a tension apparatus by which uniformity of tension of the strand during the weavin g process will be preserved. My inven tion accomplishes all that is necessary, and although simple, is of great importance in the matter ot' useful effects.

I claim as my invention- The improved elastic-strand tension appa,

LIvEEAs HULL. Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

